When is the best time to observe 8 Andromedae?

8 Andromedae is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 8 Andromedae located in the sky?

8 Andromedae lies in the constellation Andromeda at right ascension 23h 18m and declination +49° 01′.

What telescope do I need to split 8 Andromedae?

Splitting 8 Andromedae requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 217.3″ at magnitudes near 4.8. The companion is about 6.0 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

8 Andromedae — Double Star in Andromeda

DoubleStar Andromeda (And) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.85

Spectral Type M2+IIIBa0.3

Star Color Red (B-V 1.67)

Distance 297 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 23h 17m 44.7s

Dec +49° 00' 55.0"

Constellation Andromeda (And)

HR 8860

HIP 115022

HD 219734

Flamsteed 8 And

Double Cat 16656

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.9 mag Companion 10.8 mag Separation 217.3″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium	Hard+	Hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Easy	Medium+	Medium+

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Aug – Oct (peak: Sep)

5Multiple Star System Sextuple D,E: optical

Components 6 (sextuple)

Component IDs AC

Separation 217.3″

Companion Mag 10.8

Position Angle 131°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer BU 717

Notes

AB, CPM. B, 13.0v at 8".

Separation over time

Measured 1880 → 2008 (128 y)

Separation drift 219.4" → 217.3" (-2.10")

Rate -0.0164" / y

PA drift 131° → 131° (+0°, +0.000°/y)

Apparent motion is significant on a human timescale — worth revisiting in a decade.

Measured from the WDS observational archive. No orbital solution has been derived — most likely the period is too long to fit an orbit to the available measurement arc.